BN-2024-001

ADVISORY

The fees and charges for Consular Services at the Philippine Embassy in Berlin as listed below will be adjusted to the new rates, effective 01 September 2024.

Clients are reminded that the Embassy has not authorized any other entity or individual to collect payments on its behalf. Payment for services should be made directly to the Embassy’s bank account or to the cashier.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has rolled-out the eTravel Customs System, in the following international airports:

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport
• Puerto Princesa International Airport
• Kalibo International Airport
• Caticlan International Airport
• Mactan-Cebu International Airport
• Bohol International Airport
• Francisco Bangoy International Airport
• Clark International Airport
• Laoag International Airport

Beginning 10 May 2024, the paper customs declaration form previously implemented will be replaced by the eTravel QR code as part of eTravel System, a digital single data collection platform for border control and health surveillance.

Arriving and departing passengers must fill-out the e-Arrival form with the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF) and electronic Currencies Declaration Form (e-CDF) through the e-Travel website at https://etravel.gov.ph or by downloading the e-GovPH application within 72 hours prior to arrival or departure from the Philippines.

Registration to the eTravel portal is always FREE OF CHARGE and must only be done through the official website https://www.etravel.gov.ph or the app.

For further information on the eTravel system, please refer to the FAQs here.

For guidance, please refer to the rules on customs declaration and cross-border transfer of currencies below.

​​General Declaration

1. Philippine Currency and/or any Philippine Monetary Instrument in excess of PhP 50,000.00; (i.e. Check, Bank, Draft, etc);
2. Foreign Currency and/or Foreign Monetary Instrument in excess of USD 10,000.00 or its equivalent;
3. Gambling Paraphernalia;
4. Cosmetics, skin care products, food supplements and medicines in excess of quantities for personal use;
5. Dangerous drugs such as morphine, marijuana, opium, poppies or synthetic drugs;
6. Firearms, ammunitions and explosives;
7. Alcohol and/or tobacco products in commercial quantities;
8. Foodstuff(s), fruit(s), vegetable(s), live animal(s) (i.e. meat, eggs etc.), marine and aquatic products(s), plant(s) and/or the product(s) and their by-product(s);
9. Mobile phones, hand-held radios and similar gadgets in excess of quantities for personal use, and radio communication equipments;
10. Cremains (human ashes), human organs or tissues;
11. Jewelry, gold, precious metals, or gems
12. Other goods, not mentioned above.

Baggage Declaration

• All persons and baggage are subject to search at any time. (Section 222 and 223 of CMTA).
• All goods, when imported from any foreign country, including those previously exported from the Philippines, shall be subject to duties and taxes (Section 104 of CMTA), except when specifically exempted.
• All Travelers bringing in goods with a value of Ten Thousand Pesos (PhP10,000.00) or below (Section 423 of CMTA), shall not pay duties and taxes.
• All Filipino Citizens are entitled to a duty and tax exemption for personal effects and household goods sent or brought in up to three times (3x), the value of which must not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP 150,000.00) within a calendar year. Provided, the goods are not in commercial quantities or intended for barter, sale or hire.
• Each Traveler is entitled to duty and Value Added Tax free importation of two (2) reams of cigarettes or 50 sticks of cigars or 250 grams of pipe tobacco, and two (2) bottles of liquor with total value of Ten Thousand Pesos (PHP10,000.00) or less.
• Failure to declare any dutiable goods will subject the Traveler to payment of duties and taxes plus a surcharge of Thirty Percent (30%) based on the total landed cost of goods. (Section 1404 of CMTA)
• The following goods are PROHIBITED:

1. 1. Written or printed goods, negatives or cinematographic films, photographs, engravings, lithographs, objects, paintings, drawings or other representation of an obscene or immoral character;
   2. Materials advocating or inciting treason, rebellion, insurrection, sedition against the Government of the Philippines;
   3. Abortion paraphernalia;
   4. Adulterated or misbranded food or drugs;
   5. Counterfeit goods, (i.e. bags, shoes, etc.); and
   6. Goods manufactured in whole or in part of gold, silver or other precious metals or alloys and the stamp, brand or mark does not indicate the actual fineness of quality of the metals or alloys

Currency Declaration

Any person bringing into or taking out of the Philippines local and foreign currencies or monetary instruments is required to declare the whole amount using the Currencies

Declaration Form in the following instances only:

1. Legal tender Philippine notes and coins, checks, money order and other bills of exchange drawn in pesos against banks operating in the Philippines in excess of the PHP50,000 limit; and/or
2. Foreign currency as well as other foreign currency-denominated bearer monetary instruments in excess of the USD 10,000 threshold or its equivalent in other foreign currency. A prior written authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is required for cross-border transfer of legal tender Philippine notes, coins, checks, money orders, and tender Philippine notes, coins, checks, money orders, and other bills of exchange in an amount exceeding the PHP50,000.00 pesos limit. The BSP, however, allows cross-border transfer of local currency in excess of the PHP50,000.00 limit only for the following purposes: testing/calibration/ configuration of money counting/sorting machines; numismatics (collection of currency); and currency awareness.

NON-DECLARATION OR FALSE DECLARATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS SUCH AS CONFISCATION OF THE CURRENCY AND POSSIBLE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to BSP’s regulations on physical cross-border transfer of currencies and other monetary instruments.

WARNING: Offenses that may result in the forfeiture of the goods and/or imposition of penalties and criminal prosecution of the Traveler or Airline Crew.

1. Bringing in of PROHIBITED or RESTRICTED GOODS under Section 118 and 119 of the CMTA;
2. Bringing in of REGULATED GOODS in excess of the allowable limits without the necessary import permit under Section 117 of the CMTA;
3. Assault, resistance or disobedience to a Customs Officer under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines; and
4. Making any false or misleading statements to a Customs Officer.